The night air was crisp as Kente and his crew stood on the deck of the ship, watching the distant lights of the capital city flicker on the horizon. The journey had been long, and for Kente, exhausting. His mind was still processing everything that had happened since awakening his Juju ability.
"Oi, Kente, you're zoning out again." Sophia Nanny nudged him with her elbow, snapping him out of his daze.
"I wasn't zoning out."
"You totally were," she smirked. "Let me guess, you were thinking about your fancy forehead bead?"
Kente scoffed. "No. I was thinking about how to survive whatever's waiting for us in the capital."
"Good answer," Miss Wolo interjected from nearby, arms crossed as she leaned against the ship's railing. "You'll need to keep that survival instinct sharp. This isn't Almass Academy anymore. Missions in the capital are different—more eyes watching, more hands reaching to control you."
The capital, Iburuzu, was the heart of the kingdom—a place where power struggles played out in both the open and the shadows. Kente knew their arrival wouldn't go unnoticed.
The Tension of Arrival
As the ship docked, a group of armed men stood waiting, their polished armor reflecting the moonlight. The King's Enforcers. They weren't enemies, but they weren't exactly allies either.
One of the enforcers, a tall man with a jagged scar running across his cheek, stepped forward. "State your names and purpose."
Miss Wolo didn't hesitate. "We're here under direct orders to handle high-risk missions."
The man narrowed his eyes. "High-risk, huh? Hope you can back up that claim." His gaze flickered to Kente, sizing him up. "And what about this one? He doesn't look like much."
Kente didn't respond. He had nothing to prove—not with words, at least.
Enitan stepped in. "Trust me, you wouldn't want to test him."
The enforcer smirked. "We'll see."
After a tense pause, they were allowed through. The capital was alive with activity—even at night, merchants called out their wares, street performers entertained small crowds, and drunkards stumbled out of taverns. But beneath the lively atmosphere, Kente could feel the undercurrents of something else. Something dangerous.
"You feel that?" Kente muttered.
Miss Wolo nodded. "Welcome to the capital. This place breathes deception."
As they made their way through the bustling streets, they turned a corner and nearly collided with a cloaked figure. The stranger barely stumbled, their movements fluid—too controlled to be an ordinary civilian.
Kente's instincts flared. "Who are you?"
The figure lifted their head slightly, revealing piercing yellow eyes. "Just someone watching from the shadows."
Miss Wolo's expression darkened. "A Watchman."
Kente tensed. WanLaden Watchman. The man with the TimeSpace-based prey ability.
"What's a Watchman doing here?" Miss Wolo asked, shifting her stance and ready to attack.
WanLaden smirked. "Oh, don't mind me. I just like watching rising stars." His gaze locked onto Kente's forehead. "And you, my young scavenger, are quite the spectacle."
Kente clenched his fists. He hated that word.
Before he could respond, WanLaden tilted his head. "Hmm. Maybe I'll pay you a visit when you're truly worth my time." And just like that, he vanished into the crowd.
Before they could dwell on the encounter, a young woman in royal robes approached them. "You must be the ones sent from the outer regions."
Miss Wolo stepped forward. "That's us."
"The King has a request."
Kente raised an eyebrow. "That was fast."
The woman's expression was grim. "A noble's daughter has been kidnapped by a group of bandits operating in the lower districts. Your mission—rescue her before dawn."
Kente exhaled slowly. No rest, huh?
Miss Wolo nodded. "We'll handle it." She turned to Kente and the others. "Get ready. This is our first job in the capital. Let's make it count."